ELEELE — The Eleele pedestrian bridge that crosses over Kaumualii Highway was closed Wednesday morning after being struck by a truck.
ELEELE — The Eleele pedestrian bridge that crosses over Kaumualii Highway was closed Wednesday morning after being struck by a truck.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation reported the incident shortly before 10 a.m. About an hour later, they closed a lane of Kaumualii Highway at mile marker 16 to remove any debris or loose material from the rusted bridge. The lane closure and work took about two hours.
The damaged crossing leads from neighborhoods along Melemele Road to the Eleele Shopping Center. Workers said the eastbound truck was carrying a heavy load that was unable to meet the 14-foot, 10-inch clearance.
Sometime after 9 a.m. Kauai Pasta West employees heard a loud bang outside of their restaurant building, which directly faces the iconic green bridge. When they went outside to investigate the sound, small pieces of concrete debris laid scattered in the road. Nobody appeared to have been hurt, and both lanes of traffic continued to move.
After the accident, patrons continued to go about their regular business at the busy shopping center that houses Longs Drugs, Big Save Market and McDonald’s.
Construction workers who were closely analyzing the damage said the pedestrian bridge would remain closed until it is deemed structurally safe.
The work was complete and all lanes were open by 1 p.m.
